Impactful Programs

Deploying programs to help existing or aspiring entrepreneurs succeed

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A large group of people stand and sit at tables, watching a presentation projected on a screen that reads “Fund Match” in a modern, indoor event space with string lights overhead.
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Smart programming that supports entrepreneurship and innovation right here in Northwest Arkansas

Our programs aim to set the foundation for our clients and help to weave the web of resources and experiences that will foster their growth. Programs like Fuel and Kiva, new and budding entrepreneurs can access resources, capital, and gain the experience they need to thrive.

Small businesses are the lifeblood of communities! Here in NWA, we can leverage key partnerships that encourage and support a thriving economic ecosystem that helps not our immediate communities!

Startup Junkie Foundation programs designed to support a local community with global reach

The image shows the word Fuel in dark blue text next to a vertical design of blue and teal bars with two pink dots, resembling a stylized soundwave or digital equalizer.

Fuel Accelerator™

The Fuel Accelerator was launched by Startup Junkie Foundation in 2019 to close the gap between growth-stage tech startups and key enterprise partners in order to accelerate the adoption of tangible technology solutions. 

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Logo featuring kivaUS in black and green, the Startup Junkie Foundation logo with text, and Northwest Arkansas in bold black letters below.

Kiva NWA

Kiva provides loans that change lives. A non-profit that expands access to capital for entrepreneurs around the world, with more than 4.3 million people raising over $1.7 billion on Kiva. Kiva believes in character over credit and the power of community-based lending.

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Logo for Upstart Thrift Store with “Up” in blue, “Start” in yellow, and the “S” formed by yellow pebbles. “Thrift store” is written in blue italics underneath.

UpStart Thrift Store

UpStart Thrift Store, located at 235 Main St, Farmington, Arkansas, is run by an all-volunteer team and resells donated clothes and home goods at affordable prices to the community.

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Logo for 1 Million Cups with five orange coffee cup silhouettes forming the number 1,000,000 above the words 1 Million Cups in gray and orange text.

1 Million Cups – Bentonville

A weekly event that brings together entrepreneurs in the Bentonville community over coffee and conversations. At each event, entrepreneurs present their ideas to the community and find inspiration through each other’s stories and experiences.

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Lithium Regional Innovation Cluster – LRIC

The Lithium Regional Innovation Cluster (LRIC) is a dynamic public-private collaborative initiative focused on accelerating energy innovation and the electric vehicle (EV) transition by strengthening the lithium value chain. The LRIC is one of the US SBA’s official distinguished and esteemed Regional Innovation Clusters. At the LRIC, we are committed to enhancing national security by building a more resilient and sustainable lithium supply chain, crucial to powering the future of energy. Rooted in the rich lithium resources of the Smackover Formation, one of the largest lithium deposits globally, LRIC is positioned as a leader in the energy revolution.
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ARise

ARise is a statewide initiative designed to support Arkansas entrepreneurs and small businesses through targeted advising, technical assistance, and access to growth resources. Delivered in partnership with local and regional organizations, ARise helps founders navigate critical stages of business development—from idea validation to expansion—by connecting them with experienced advisors, relevant programming, and pathways to capital. The program is focused on strengthening Arkansas’s entrepreneurial ecosystem by meeting founders where they are and helping them take the next step.

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75 Strong

75 Strong is a community-driven initiative focused on strengthening Arkansas’s rural and underrepresented entrepreneurial ecosystems. Through workshops, one-on-one support, and local partnerships, 75 Strong works to identify and empower entrepreneurs in communities that are often overlooked, helping them build sustainable businesses and access the resources they need to grow. The program emphasizes practical support, relationship-building, and long-term economic impact across the state.

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These programs are made possible by the support of our funding partners

We are so grateful for the Walton Family Foundation, the EDA, the SBA, the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, and other organizations that support our vision of improving lives through entrepreneurship.

Funding partners
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